He examined attendance at religious services and subsequent death in women, and believes there is a link.

Our results suggest that there may be something important about religious service attendance beyond solitary spirituality.

Part of the benefit seems to be that attending religious services increases social support, discourages smoking, decreases depression, and helps people develop a more optimistic or hopeful outlook on life.

He found that women who attended religious services more than once a week had a 33 percent lower risk of death during the 16 years of follow-up compared with women who never attended religious services.

Women who attended services weekly had a 26 percent lower risk and those who attended services less than weekly had a 13 percent lower risk, according to the results.

Religious services can combat stress and depression (Picture: Getty)

Nearly 75,000 women were surveyed, but the researchers admitted there were flaws in the study.

They said it was narrow in scope as it looked mainly at white female nurses who were protestant or catholic.